5 Things you must know about the Broadway smash 'Wicked'

Patti Murin as Glinda and Dee Roscioli as Elphaba in the national tour of "Wicked," coming to San Francisco.
Photo: SHNSF
(
Joan Marcus
)

The insanely popular "Wicked" has soared back into the Bay Area where it was born. In honor of the return of this smash hit, here are 5 things you must know about the Tony-winning musical if you want to defy gravity.

"Wicked" made its world premiere in San Francisco back in 2003 starring Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel

Dee Roscioli, who plays the green-skinned wicked witch of the west in SHN's current production, has logged more performances (more than 1,000!) in the role than any other actress.

The name Elphaba is a play on the initials of L. Frank Baum.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! Robert Morse was replaced with Joel Grey in the key role of the wizard before the show moved to Broadway.

"Wicked" is based on the children's novel by Gregory Maguire, a whimsical riff on the "Wizard of Oz" mythology.